FCC Provided Internet Access
Overview
Internet access is provided to every FCC computer system user as a resource to directly facilitate your work. In addition, we believe that accessing the Internet will broaden your understanding of the general structure and availability of resources on the "Information
Highway" and how these resources might be applied at the FCC. For these reasons, you are encouraged to explore the wide variety of sites on the Internet. In addition to accessing web sites in order to learn about their possible applicability to the FCC, you may also make limited personal use of the Internet during non-work time. Such use must not interfere with your official duties, must involve minimal impact on the government, and must be consistent with the Standards of Ethical Conduct contained in 5 CFR Part 2635 and Part 19 of the Commission’s rules. See below for examples of impermissible uses.
Policy
While it is the intention of the FCC to provide you with access to and encourage your exploration of this state-of-the-art computer technology, it is also the Commission's responsibility to manage access to these systems. Internet access provided by the FCC is intended primarily for work-related purposes. To the extent possible, become informed of an Internet site's primary information content prior to actually connecting to it. In some cases the site name will be highly revealing. It is your responsibility to exercise good judgment when accessing Internet sites and avoid sites that might cause embarrassment to the FCC. For example, Internet sites containing sexually explicit, oriented or related material should not knowingly be accessed using FCC computer resources.
In the past, the Commission has permitted access to the Internet whenever it could be justified as serving a work-related purpose. Consistent with recent guidance applicable to federal agencies, the Commission has determined that it is appropriate to establish a new policy under which employees may make limited personal use of the Internet on non-work time. Non-work time consists of time when you are not otherwise expected to be addressing official business, including before or after work, during lunch and breaks during the day.
Allowing limited personal use of this tool helps enhance the quality of the workplace environment and helps the government retain motivated and skilled employees. At the same time, the public has a right to expect that government resources are well managed and assets are used appropriately. Thus, personal use of the Internet is permitted on an occasional basis during non-work time, where such use involves minimal additional impact on the government, and does not interfere with the performance of your official duties or with the mission of the agency. Personal use that interferes with job performance or agency mission includes, but is not limited to, those activities that result in the overloading of computer systems or that negatively affect the agency’s ability to perform its functions. Your activities must also be consistent with the Standards of Ethical

Conduct contained in 5 CFR 2635 and Part 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The policy of allowing limited personal use of the Internet on non-work time applies to all employees, including telecommuters. Consistent with the rule that employees may make limited, occasional personal use of this tool, the FCC’s Internet connection should not be used by telecommuters as a substitute for their own Internet service provider.
Please recognize that your user ID identifies you as a member of the FCC staff and as a member of the Federal government (i.e., John Doe FCC user ID = "jdoe@fcc.gov"). Most
Internet site managers monitor or audit usage of their site and can provide lists of users to various entities. Further, all Internet connectivity via FCC computer systems is logged and recorded, is an official record and may be monitored. While the FCC has the capability to block access to Internet sites, we do not intend to take these steps at this time because we are confident that you will make responsible decisions when you access these computer resources. However, individual inappropriate or illegal activity discovered during routine audits will be forwarded to authorities for appropriate action.
Impermissible Personal Uses
Inappropriate personal use of computer resources includes:
*Any personal use that could cause congestion, delay, or disruption of service to any government system or equipment. For example, continuous data streams (e.g. video files) or other large file attachments can degrade the performance of the overall functionality of the FCC network and would thus be an inappropriate use.
*Using the FCC systems to launch illegal computer-based attacks or to gain unauthorized access to other systems.
*The creation, copying, transmission, or retransmission of chain letters or other unauthorized mass mailings regardless of the subject matter.
*Using the FCC system for activities that are illegal, inappropriate, or offensive to fellow employees or the public. Such activities include, but is not limited to: hate speech, or material that ridicules others on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.
*The creation, download, viewing, storage, copying or transmission of sexually explicit or sexually oriented materials.
*The creation, download, viewing, storage, copying or transmission of materials related to illegal gambling, illegal weapons, terrorist activities, and any other illegal activities or activities otherwise prohibited by law.
*Use for commercial purposes or in support of “for-profit” activities or in support of other outside employment or business activity (e.g. consulting for pay, sales or administration of

business transactions, sale of goods or services).
*Engaging in any outside fund-raising activity, endorsing any product or service, as provided in 5 CFR 2635 of the Standards of Ethical Conduct.
*Participating in any lobbying activity except as provided by law, or engaging in any prohibited partisan political activity prohibited by law.
*Use for posting agency information to external newsgroups, bulletin boards or other public forums without authority. This includes any use that could create the perception that the communication was made in one’s official capacity as a federal employee, unless appropriate Agency approval has been obtained, or uses at odds with the agency’s mission or positions.
*The unauthorized acquisition, use, reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any controlled information including computer software and data, that includes privacy information, copyrighted, trade marked or material with other intellectual property rights
(beyond fair use), proprietary data, or export controlled software or data.
Additional Guidance
Please reference FCC Instruction 1479.1, FCC Computer Security Program Directive for additional information on appropriate use of FCC computer resources.